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Public release date: 5-Feb-2009
– We estimated that the treatment plant released 45 kilograms of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in one day, which is equivalent to five times the daily consumption of Sweden,"
– The water from the pharmaceutical industries is highly toxic
Many of the substances in our most common medicines are manufactured in India and China. Some of these factories release large quantities of antibiotics and other pharmaceutical substances to the environment. There is an obvious risk of these releases leading to resistant bacteria.
Research from the Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows that Sweden is a major consumer of pharmaceutical substances from factories that fail to adequately treat their wastewater. As it is difficult to find out where the pharmaceutical substances are manufactured and how much is released, it is impossible at present for consumers to avoid contributing to this environmental harm.
These findings are presented in the medical journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology and are highlighted today in a news article in Nature. Last week the research of the Swedish group became headline news in New York Times, Washington Post and Times of India.
"We used to think that pharmaceuticals that ended up in the environment mostly came from the use of the medicines and that the substances were dispersed through wastewater. We now know that certain factories that manufacture substances release very large quantities of active substances," says associate professor Joakim Larsson of the Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg,Sweden, one of the research scientists behind the studies.
The water from the pharmaceutical industries is highly toxic
Joakim Larsson has visited the industrial zone near Hyderabad, India, an important centre for the manufacturing of pharmaceutical substances. Here his research team has taken samples of the water discharged from a treatment plant that treats wastewater from around 90 pharmaceutical factories before it is released.
"We have previously shown that the "treated" water contained exceptionally high levels of various pharmaceutical substances, including several broad-spectrum antibiotics. We estimated that the treatment plant released 45 kilograms of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in one day, which is equivalent to five times the daily consumption of Sweden," says Larsson.
Such high levels of antibiotics in the water are a cause for alarm as there is an increased risk of spawning resistant bacteria, an issue of global concern. This can lead to those antibiotics that are invaluable today becoming ineffective sooner and not killing the bacteria of tomorrow. In addition, the environment is affected locally by the pollution; In another study by Larsson's team, published this week in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, they show that effluent diluted as much as 500 times strongly inhibit the growth of frog tadpoles.
The substances manufactured in Hyderabad are sold in Sweden
Where the active substance in a pharmaceutical product is manufactured is not public information, but the Swedish Medical Products Agency can grant exemptions for research purposes. The researchers analyzed data from the Medical Products Agency for all 242 products on the Swedish market that contained any of nine specific substances*. They found that 123 products contained substances from India and for 74 of the products, 31 per cent, the active substance was manufactured by one of the factories that send their wastewater to the treatment plant outside Hyderabad that was studied.
"The analysis shows quite clearly that a large number of medicinal products on the Swedish market is made by manufacturers that send their effluent to a treatment plant that does not treat their water satisfactorily," says Larsson.
We bear part of the responsibility
" Sweden, which is reputed to have some of the strictest environmental legislation in the world, like other western countries therefore bears a shared responsibility for the environmental problems the medicines we consume cause in India, for example," says Larsson.
But it is impossible for the individual consumer to know today whether a substance in a medicine he or she needs to take may have caused environmental problems in manufacturing.
"It is therefore important that the production chain is made transparent. If consumers are given an opportunity to choose pharmaceutical products they know to be produced in an environmentally friendly way, this could encourage manufacturers to become more environmentally friendly," says Larsson.


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Help us improve our prizes database. Contact us if you have more information.
This is the third consecutive year that Natasha Bieniek has been represented in the Archibald Prize with a miniature self-portrait.
Her work Application uses traditional painting methods to examine the emphasis on image in our digital media-obsessed culture.
'More than ever, we use images to connect and communicate with the outside world,' says Bieniek. 'Social networking sites enable us to share a part of ourselves, sometimes honestly and at other times with fabricated versions of our existence. This is also inherently common in portrait painting.'
Bieniek has painted the work on Dibond – a coated aluminium composite usually used for industrial products. 'It has a slick, glossy quality, not unlike that of a smartphone,' she says. 'The use of handheld devices miniaturises the way we observe pictures on a regular basis. I'm interested in sharing a link between how we perceive images in contemporary culture and how we have done so in the past.'
In 16th-century Italian painting, a raised finger was used to symbolise religious beliefs or to lead the viewer's attention to a certain point. Here Bieniek uses it to direct the focus back to the individual to underscore the theme of self-portrayal and the widespread exposure of our own image through modern channels.
Born in Melbourne in 1984, Bieniek is renowned for her miniature portraits. In 2012 she won the Metro Art Award and was runner-up in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.

subset: commoncrawl


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An overview of IBIS concepts, using CCOM to generate reports and complete financial processes.
Collaborating and communicating online has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives, but it's often messy and hard to navigate across multiple apps and devices. Join us for a brown bag session to learn how to create and organize a virtual collaboration space with Microsoft Teams. You'll have a chance to explore relevant features available in Teams (channels, apps, tabs etc.) and walk away with tips for setting up, organizing, and managing your Team to make collaboration more seamless.
Answer key to the test for Penn State Financial: Getting Started with Processing Electronic Forms Using IBIS.
An introduction to processing electronic forms in IBIS.
This resource discusses various uses for Teams involving instructors and departments.


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H.R.3121 - American Health Care Reform Act of 2013113th Congress (2013-2014)
BillHide Overview
|Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] (Introduced 09/18/2013)
|House - Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Education and the Workforce; Judiciary; Natural Resources; House Administration; Appropriations; Rules
|Latest Action:
|House - 01/22/2014 Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions. (All Actions)
This bill has the status Introduced
Here are the steps for Status of Legislation:
- Introduced
Subject — Policy Area:
- Health
- View subjects
Summary: H.R.3121 — 113th Congress (2013-2014)All Information (Except Text)
There is one summary for H.R.3121. Bill summaries are authored by CRS.
Shown Here:
Introduced in House (09/18/2013)
American Health Care Reform Act of 2013 - Repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the health care provisions of the Health Care and Education and Reconciliation Act of 2010, effective as of their enactment. Restores or revives provisions amended or repealed by such Act or such health care provisions.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to allow an income tax standard deduction for a specified percentage of an individual's health insurance costs, regardless of whether or not the taxpayer itemizes other deductions. Excludes the amount of such a deduction from employment taxes.
Allows a taxpayer, for earned income credit purposes, to exclude from earned income any employer contributions to a qualified accident or health plan.
Allows double additional contributions to a health savings account (HSA) if both spouses are age 55 or older and one spouse is not an account beneficiary.
Prescribes special rules for HSA coverage eligibility for certain individuals: (1) participating in a Medicare Advantage Medical Savings Account (MSA), (2) receiving periodic hospital care or medical services for a service-connected disability, (3) eligible for Indian Health Service assistance, or (4) eligible for TRICARE coverage.
Prescribes requirements for interaction of health flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) and health reimbursement arrangements with HSAs.
Prohibits the payment of health insurance premiums from HSAs, with certain exceptions.
Prescribes circumstances in which certain medical expenses incurred before establishment of an HSA may still be qualified expenses.
Prescribes requirements for protection of any HSA in a bankruptcy proceeding.
Amends title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize additional health opportunity account demonstration programs.
Treats membership in a health care sharing ministry as coverage under a high deductible health plan.
Renames high deductible health plans as HSA qualified plans.
Allows payments from an HSA for: (1) direct primary care service arrangements, (2) certain exercise equipment and physical fitness programs, (3) certain nutritional and dietary supplements, and (4) periodic fees paid to a primary care physician for the right to receive medical services on an as-needed basis.
Increases the maximum limit on contributions to an HSA to match deductible and out-of-pocket expenses limitations.
Prescribes requirements for establishment of child health savings accounts, for which an income tax deduction shall be allowed a taxpayer equal to the aggregate cash amount paid into the account during the taxable year.
Amends the IRC to include in gross income any distributions from an HSA for an abortion.
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), and the IRC to authorize premium and cost-sharing variances in group health plans based on certain financial incentives for participation (or lack of it) in a standards-based wellness program.
Amends the PHSA to direct the Secretary to provide a grant of up to $5 million to each state for the costs of creation and initial operation of a qualified high risk pool if it has not created such a pool as of September 1, 2013. Limits participation in such a pool to U.S. citizens and nationals.
Declares that the laws of the state designated by a health insurance issuer (primary state) shall apply to individual health insurance coverage offered by that issuer in the primary state and in any other state (secondary state), but only if the coverage and issuer comply with conditions of this Act.
Prohibits a health insurance issuer from offering, selling, or issuing individual health insurance coverage in a secondary state if its insurance commissioner does not use a risk-based capital formula for determining capital and surplus requirements for all health insurance issuers.
Amends the McCarran-Ferguson Act to declare that nothing in it shall modify, impair, or supersede the operation of any of the antitrust laws with respect to the business of health insurance (including the business of dental insurance).
Amends SSA title XI (General Provisions) to require the Secretary to make available to the public Medicare claims and payment data, including data on payments made to any provider of services or supplier.
Authorizes a state to establish a Health Plan and Provider Portal website to standardize information on: (1) health insurance plans available in the state, and (2) price and quality information on health care providers (including physicians, hospitals, and other health care institutions).
Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to interfere with the doctor-patient relationship or the practice of medicine.
Amends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to eliminate the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research.
Amends ERISA to prescribe requirements for establishment and governance of association health plans, which are group health plans meeting certain ERISA certification criteria whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations.
Limits the commencement of a health care lawsuit, except in certain cases including fraud or intentional concealment, to three years after the date of manifestation of injury or one year after the claimant discovers, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered, the injury, whichever occurs first.
Limits to $250,000 the amount of noneconomic damages in such a lawsuit, but allows a claim for the full amount of any economic damages.
Requires the court, in any health care lawsuit, to supervise the arrangements for payment of damages to protect against conflicts of interest that may have the effect of reducing the amount of damages awarded that are actually paid to claimants.
Specifies criteria for the award of punitive damages, limited to the greater of $250,000 or double the amount of economic damages.
Preempts state law with respect to health care lawsuits.
Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to: (1) require any health plan to provide coverage of or access to abortion services; or (2) allow the Secretary, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, or any other federal or non-federal person or entity in implementing this Act to require coverage of, or access to, abortion services.
Prohibits the use of funds authorized or appropriated by this Act to pay for any abortion or to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes abortion coverage, except: (1) if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or (2) in the case where a pregnant female suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the female in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.


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I'm sitting at the kitchen table in a log ranch house where animal heads stare glassy-eyed from the living room walls. A framed photograph of Bonanza's Cartwright family, posed outside a similar log house on the Ponderosa, hangs near the kitchen door.
This house is on a large cattle ranch, in the middle of "seriously nowhere," a few miles down the road from the village of Franz Josef in New Zealand's glacier country. Franz Josef is a small village, somewhat reminiscent of Banff.
We arrived in the village the day before, after a scenic train ride from Christchurch to Greymouth, where we picked up a rental car for the 180-kilometre drive along a twisty mountain road.
We spent the night in a comfy room with a king-sized bed and a soaker tub, at the aptly named Franz Josef Glacier Country Retreat.
Surrounded by cattle pastures, with distant lake views, we had two days here and it was the first time on this whirlwind New Zealand odyssey that we really felt relaxed. That feeling would be fleeting.
The next morning, after a fabulous three-course country breakfast in the dining room at this gracious inn, we headed for town and a helicopter tour of the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.
Our Scottish pilot, intent on scaring the wits out of us, flew straight toward the peak's edge twice, zipping up and over and down again just at the last second, giving us a gut-fluttering 20-minute ride over stunningly rugged terrain. We landed on the glacier for a quick snowball toss before heading back to town for lunch at the local pub.
En route we stopped at a bookstore to find a New Zealand cookbook - I'm an obsessive collector. We were looking to recreate a few Kiwi specialties, specifically the venison salami that had us both smitten. When I asked the kid behind the counter for the most authentic New Zealand cookbook, he confessed he didn't know which to choose; he was from B.C.
Down the road at the pub, our waitress told us she was from Calgary, and we told her the story about the kid in the bookstore. The guy standing next to us overheard and said he was from B.C. as well.
Small world. Anyway, the guy from B.C. was talking to a local guy - a helicopter pilot - who happened to know a butcher who made venison salami. Serendipity at play.
"Stop by my house for a beer on your way back from town," he said.
"It's just down the road from where you're staying. There's a helicopter next to the driveway - you can't miss it. I might not be back yet, but I'll let my wife know you're coming and she'll give you directions to the butcher's house."
So, we had a plan. A short distance from town, we spotted the helicopter and turned down a long driveway. The missus was expecting us and invited us inside.
As she was writing out the directions to the butcher's house in the next town, we heard the deafening sound of a jet helicopter landing. It was then I discovered our pilot friend flew trophy hunters from around the world, intent on bagging Himalayan tahr and chamois.
Both of these animals were introduced by Europeans in the early 1900s, for the sole purpose of sport hunting.
Because their growing numbers are destroying native foliage, they are considered pests in these parts. The pilot asked Jon if he'd like to go for a ride. "Hell yeah," Jon said without a second thought.
The fact that he was wearing shorts and flying in glacier country near dark didn't enter his mind. Off he went for the adventure of his life.
This adventure, I'm glad I didn't know at the time, also involved Jon jumping out of the hovering helicopter (from four feet off the ground) to flush out a tahr from under the brush. He then had to slide down a steep slope on his butt to get to a clearing where the pilot could find him and then pull himself back up into the hovering craft.
Back at the ranch house, as the sky darkened, I was trying painfully to make small talk, but it was clear I was out of my element.
Finally, thankfully, the missus detected the distant drone of the helicopter, grabbed a half-dozen frosty beers, set them on a tray and headed for the door.
I restrained myself from running and followed her into the bug-ridden night, the dogs trotting along beside me.
By the time we reached the hangar, two animals were hooked on a rack and a ranch hand was deftly skinning one of them. The hunting party swigged beer and talked excitedly about the chase, while the dogs waited eagerly on the sidelines for bloody scraps. Nothing is wasted here.
I wanted to bolt for the car. This rugged pioneer country was no place for a city slicker sissy girl like me.
After a bit of silent prodding (not to mention dagger stares at Jon, who was enjoying the camaraderie) we thanked our hosts and headed back to our very civilized inn, where I barely slept a wink for the wild dreams.
If you go
Train travel: tranzscenic.co.nz
Car rental: budget.co.nz/default.aspx
Accommodation: glacier-retreat.co.nz/
Helicopter tours: glacierhelicopters.co.nz/franz.asp
Kiwi Conservation: wildkiwi.co.nz
Tahr and chamois: doc.govt.nz


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What are the biggest challenges facing financial advisors today? If you're like me, you have either asked yourself one (if not all) of these questions, or you'll soon be taking them into consideration:
- How do I grow my business?
- How do I manage changing technology and make sure my firm has what it needs?
- What's my succession plan?
- What can I do to increase my firm's profitability?
In this, the first in a series of blogs, Greg Friedman on Business Development, I'll address each of these burning questions and offer a few ideas from my own experiences in the industry. First off: let's cover how to build new business, including shifting your focus from relying only on referrals to more aggressive sales and marketing channels.
In My Day…
I'm dating myself, but in the late 1980s, the concept of financial advice was wildly different than it is today. All clients were new clients to the industry, and advisors needed only to rely on referrals for new business. 'Marketing' was a foreign concept outside of answering the phone, and there was no such thing as competition.
How times have changed. Our industry has matured and expanded so quickly over the past five to ten years, with advances in technology, the explosion of social media, mergers and acquisitions and a talented new crop of advisors entering the field. Competition for new business is fierce (potential new clients now interview two to three advisors for the job), margins are shrinking and compliance regulations change often. Add to that an aging industry (on average advisors are in their 50s) and you've got a sea change on the horizon that will determine which firms rise to the challenge and which ones sink to the ocean floor.
So what's an advisor to do to remain successful?
Time to Get Pro-Active
Gone are the days of relying on referrals and waiting for the phone to ring. New clients may stumble on your website (which you should invest in, by the way), but it's critical that you do your homework and pro-actively do some outreach to build new business. Here is a four-step approach that we've implemented in my firm:
Step 1: Focus on marketing efforts and messaging to new clients
Over the past several years we have become much more disciplined and strategic in our marketing efforts and messaging. This included working with a marketing firm to re-develop our website and instituting a coordinated advertising strategy with local magazines.
Step 2: Train advisors on the business development/selling model
In today's landscape there is a lot of interest in your experience. I attended a session at an industry conference awhile back and the presenter spoke about how his firm went from a single rainmaker to a culture of selling. It was the game changer for the firm and yet there's still this belief that service advisors can't sell. The reality is advisors today have to sell—their credentials and their experience as well as the firm's—to stand out from the crowd. Train your advisors to rethink the business model and communicate to prospects accordingly.
Step 3: Enhance activity tracking of advisors
You've invested in technology for your office, so use it to your advantage! Your CRM, for instance, should not only store the minutest details of clients, but it should also track capacity to help set goals for your advisors. Use reports to stay on top of activity and firm efficiency. Use your system to monitor results, both firm-wide and among individual advisors.
Step 4: Transition from a service culture to a service to sales culture
As a leader in the firm it is critical for me to communicate the need to grow and develop business, and that this commitment does not conflict with providing great service! I simply stressed the dependence on our growth to continue to provide great service. In other words, if we don't grow and aren't ourselves financially successful we won't be around to provide great service to others. This for us was not a tough thing to sell internally and we have had great success moving to this mindset.
No matter the size or success of your firm, growing your business is a constantly evolving process. In my next blog, I'll discuss how to manage the ever-changing world of technology and not get left behind.
Read the complete blog series, Greg Friedman on Business Development.


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Bank Healthcare Worker
Woodland View, Showell Lane, Meriden, Coventry, CV7 7HZ
Priory Group Division
Vacancy Type
£8.83 per hour
Job Advert Role Description
We are looking to recruit personable, flexible and motivated Health Care Assistants to support our qualified staff with the delivery of care to our patients. You will be involved in the personal care and meeting the psychological needs of a diverse group of service users with varying degrees of mental and physical issues. You will be caring and attentive with the skills to build strong and trusting relationships with people. It is also important that you work well in a team as you will work alongside qualified nurses and staff from other professions.
What we'd like from you:
- Previous experience within a healthcare setting desirable
- A strong sense of responsibility
- Reliable & trustworthy
- Willingness to learn
- Effective communication skills
- Flexibility and strong "can do" attitude
- Quality orientation
What we'd like to give you:
- A competitive salary
- Disclosure check cost coverage
- Comprehensive induction and commitment to ongoing training
- Online benefits and cashback rewards
Division DBS info
About us
From education to hospitals, care homes and secure facilities, the Priory Group of Companies offers individually tailored, multidisciplinary treatment programmes for those with complex educational needs or requiring acute, long-term and respite mental healthcare.
The integrated strength of each service provides a seamless transition for the individual as they progress between higher and lower dependency care and across services. This unique approach ensures that every individual has the opportunity to achieve the best possible outcomes and quality of life with the Priory Group.
As 85% of our services are publicly funded and delivered in partnership with commissioners, our teams work with commissioning bodies across the country to provide transparent pricing models and evidence-based care programmes.
All roles will be subject to a successful disclosure at an appropriate level from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Access NI or Disclosure Scotland. We are an equal opportunities employer.
Closing Date


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Paper Pressure
Paper Pressure
Politicians know that the voting population can appear apathetic - and they may be looking for a good local cause - so even two dozen letters about a poorly-planned cycletrack could have an effect Here are a few general guidelines to follow for maximum impact:
- Make sure that as many people as possible feel able to support your cause. Double-check, for instance, that your message is suitably broad and will not antagonise potential supporters either this time round or later on. A petition that targets motorists might galvanise an opposing response which gathers more signatures than you do!
- Ensure that the letters are sent to the right person or department. Nothing infuriates people more than receiving piles of correspondence about an issue that does not concern them.
- Write professional, reasoned, concise and fair text. Avoid ranting.
- Give an adequate but minimal time to get signatures or letters in. Twenty letters in a fortnight is better than three letters a week for two months, but too little time will make your campaign appear to lack support.


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We run a senior club after school on a Wednesday for pupils who are in senior 1, 2 or 3. The session starts at 3.30pm and finishes at 5.30 pm. We organise trips out and about to parks, bowling, the beach and various other school based activities. The cost of each session is £5 and we ask that parents pick their child up at the end.
If you wish your child to attend or have any questions please contact Eileen on 01424 217720 or speak to the class teacher


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Dave_C » April 22nd, 2018, 5:55 pm wrote: So I don't fit the typical "liberal" mold of those who want to eliminate guns.
JMP1958 » April 23rd, 2018, 11:37 am wrote:Dave_C » April 22nd, 2018, 5:55 pm wrote: So I don't fit the typical "liberal" mold of those who want to eliminate guns.
Total elimination of guns or the second amendment is no more a typical "Liberal" position than neo-nazism is a typical "conservative" position. The vast majority of people who consider themselves "liberal" just want some common sense gun control measures to be put into place.
Braininvat » April 23rd, 2018, 11:25 am wrote:This has been so discussed in a couple gun threads, back when Paul Anthony was a regular, that it's hard to see anything new in the basic lines of argument.
In United States politics, the Dickey Amendment is a provision first inserted as a rider into the 1996 federal government omnibus spending bill which mandated that "none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may be used to advocate or promote gun control."[1] ...
The amendment was lobbied for by the NRA. The amendment is named after its author Jay Dickey, a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas.[2] Many commentators have described this amendment as a "ban" on gun violence research by the CDC.[3]
The amendment was introduced after lobbying by the National Rifle Association in response to their perceived bias in a 1993 study by Arthur Kellermann that found that guns in the home were associated with an increased risk of homicide in the home, as well as other CDC funded studies and efforts. ...
In response to this amendment being adopted, the American Psychological Association adopted a resolution condemning it.[2] In December 2015, multiple medical organizations, including Doctors for America, the American College of Preventive Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, called on Congress to repeal the amendment.[4] That same month, the American Association for the Advancement of Science also called for an end to this amendment.
On March 21, 2018, Congressional negotiators reached a deal on an Omnibus continuing resolution. The 1.3 trillion dollar spending agreement also includes language that codified Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar interpretation of the Dickey Rider in testimony on February 18, 2018, before the US House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee.[14] While the amendment itself remains, the language in a report accompanying the Omnibus spending bill clarifies that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can, in fact, conduct research into gun violence.[15] It was signed into legislation by U.S. President Donald J. Trump on March 23, 2018.
"There's some evidence that certain types of gun laws, like universal background checks, may be useful," David Hemenway, a Harvard University professor who has written extensively about injury prevention and guns, told me. "There's no evidence at all about raising the age to 21. There's certainly no evidence about arming teachers. There's evidence [that] arming more people is typically good for the gun industry and bad for society."
"We have to extrapolate from what limited data we have, from different states or countries with different laws. Generalizing from this data is difficult," Dr. Steven Novella, a professor at Yale Medical School and executive editor at Science-Based Medicine, said in an email. "But we can still craft thoughtful policy based upon the data we have and plausibility. Then track the results of those policies and adjust them as necessary."
Dave_C » Mon Apr 23, 2018 6:57 pm wrote:Braininvat » April 23rd, 2018, 11:25 am wrote:This has been so discussed in a couple gun threads, back when Paul Anthony was a regular, that it's hard to see anything new in the basic lines of argument.
I'm sure there are many posts on the board referring to gun control, but I also think now is a good time to resurrect the discussion. It seems to me there's a grass roots gun control movement that's growing steadily so part of the timing here is simply to add fertilizer to the new growth.
wolfhnd » April 24th, 2018, 2:08 am wrote:Of the 33,636 civilian deaths during 2013 due to firearms only 11,208 were killed intentionally by another person. That makes the OP seem somewhat misleading if the comparison with Afghanistan was meant to make a point. The question really needs to be defined by who is getting killed in any case.
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An agency in the Netherlands comes up with a clever piece of choice architecture for every coffee or sandwich shop in a college town:
(CoffeeCompany) wanted to attract more students. So it installed WiFi in some of its stores near universities. The problem is lots of students just come into the store for the WiFi but hardly look at the menu. So (a marketing firm) and CoffeeCompany decided to move the store's menu into the WiFi menu of customers' laptops (and iPhones).
In case you can't read the last line on this image it reads: "The best part came when people yelled across the room to ask the barista what the name of the WiFi network was and the barista answered one of the WiFi lines like, "OrderAnotherCoffeeAlready."
The wireless network menu also always includes lines alerting customers to food and drink specials.
Hat tip: Jordan Lloyd
Tags: choice architecture, coffee


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Power is an addictive thing. No matter how much you have, eventually you'll want just a little more. It's like buying a new big-screen TV. At first, that 55-inch version seems huge, but as the months go by it almost seems to shrink in size, and soon you're eyeballin' the 70-inch version. Engines are no different. What feels fast, eventually seems less so, and soon the gearhead itch for more power starts to tingle.
That's the story with our '01 Z28 project car, Black Betty. We recently added a set of ceramic-coated 409 stainless JBA long-tube headers that shot the power output of our cammed LS3 to 448 hp and 445 lb-ft to the rear tires. Certainly respectable, but wouldn't just a bit more power be even more fun?
Before long we had the idea to stroke the Camaro's engine out to a 416 and gain 40 inches of power-making displacement. To keep our downtime to a minimum (and not tie up a rack at Don Lee Auto), we picked up a fresh block from Chevrolet Performance so we could have the short block assembled and ready to rock. We don't want to drop any spoilers here, but the newfound power still has us grinning from ear to ear. Will the euphoria last? We hope so. Then again, we heard power-adders can easily be installed using common hand tools, so who knows? But follow along as we pump up Black Betty with just a bit more power.
01. The starting point for our new powerplant is this Chevrolet Performance 6.2L aluminum block. When used in an LS3, it works out to 376 ci, but our plan is to massage the cylinder bores out to 4.070 inches and stuff in a 4-inch-stroke crank. This combo will give us an additional 40 cubic inches of displacement, and that equals more power throughout the curve.
02. The crank is the heart of any stroker build, so we opted for one of Lunati's Voodoo units (PN 70340001, $706). This 4-inch-stroke forged crank is an affordable way to get Lunati quality. Made from 4340 steel, this piece is a non-twist forging known for durability and strength. It came nitride heat-treated with micropolished journals and lightening holes in the rod journals to reduce inertia.
03. The GM block wasn't designed for a 4-inch stroke and required a little work to allow for the longer rod throw. We installed the crank, bolted on a rod, and marked where the rod bolts were running into the bottom of the cylinder bore. Once we found one, it was easy to transfer that mark to the other seven cylinders. We then used an air grinder to remove the material.
04. For pistons, we went with a set of forged Mahle PowerPak slugs (PN L92105070F04). These flat-tops came with a Grafal anti-friction coating on the skirts and were phosphate-coated to reduce pin galling. Street price was just under $700.
05. Working with the crank to get us the right stroke are these 6.125-inch Lunati H-beam rods. They are forged from the same aircraft-grade 4340 steel as the crank and are then heat-treated, stress-relieved, shot-peened, and magnafluxed to ensure they will last. After all, connecting rods are subjected to some of the highest stress levels any of the bottom end engine components endure. When the piston direction reverses from top dead center, the forces on the rod can exceed 12,000 pounds. To hold up to that kind of punishment, we are utilizing ARP rod cap hardware.
06. Don Lee Auto's (Cucamonga, California) Tim Lee then went about the task of file-fitting the rings and mating the Mahle pistons to the Lunati rods. The wristpin locks are the split-wire-ring type, so be careful since they tend to want to shoot across the room when you're trying to remove them.
07. We then slid the rod and piston assemblies into place and torqued them to spec. Made from 4032 low-expansion aluminum, these flat-top pistons should yield us an 11:1 compression ratio, which is perfect for a pump-gas EFI LS engine.
08. Friendly reminder: just as there's a top and a bottom to a piston, there's an inside and an outside edge on the rod. When installed on the crank journal, this is how the rod end should look.
09. Since this engine is destined for our '01 project car, we made life simpler by ordering the Lunati crank with the requisite 24x reluctor wheel installed and ready to rock.
10. We don't mind a little cam, but being too aggressive can be a pain to live with. At first we wanted to try Lunati's new line of high-lift cams, but they weren't playing nice with our bone-stock LS3 heads. So, we instead went with a profile that should make good power and have decent off-track manners (PN 20540731, $430). The final specs on the bumpstick were 227/238 (at 0.050) with lift numbers of 0.583/0.600 on a 112 LSA.
11. The plastic GM lifter trays are convenient, but at higher rpm they can flex and cause valvetrain issues. For a hard-running engine, these 0.842-inch diameter captured link bar lifters from Lunati (PN 72332-16, $375) are a much better solution. They dropped right in and should easily support 6,500 rpm.
12. There wasn't anything wrong with our stock timing chain, but since we're this deep into it, we decided to upgrade to something a bit stronger. This billet Lunati timing set (PN 95603, $165) came with a pre-stretched double-roller chain and had three points of adjustability on the crank sprocket.
13. Before bolting on our stock GM L92 heads, we made sure to check our piston-to-valve clearance with some lightweight springs. Once that was done, we finished installing the Lunati Voodoo dual valvesprings (PN 73925K1, $250) and 4140 chrome-moly retainers. The spring kit also included steel 7-degree valve locks and Viton synthetic rubber, steel-reinforced valvestem seals. Before dropping the heads on we installed a set of FelPro MLS head gaskets (PN 26192PT, $67) and torqued the heads down with ARP head bolts (PN 134-3610, $123).
14. For rockers, it's really hard to beat the GM design, but they can be made better. We've seen trunnion kits on the market to help make the rockers more stable, but they are sort of a pain to install. Well, Lunati made things easier by offering the L92 1.7 ratio GM rockers with the captured roller trunnion bearings already installed (PN 85428-16, $417). Once paired up with Lunati's 7.400-inch hardened pushrods (PN 5048-16, $110) our valvetrain was complete.
15. When we pulled Betty's engine, we found that the stock rubber engine mounts were toast. To replace them, we grabbed a set of poly replacements from Energy Suspensions (PN 1151R, $32 each).
16. The rest merely involved bolting on the parts, like the Holley 90mm throttle body and F-body accessory drive from our old LS3. The beauty of added displacement is that it's invisible to the eye.
17. We also dropped in six quarts of Driven Racing Oil BR-30 LS break in oil. This 5w-30 oil has the highest levels of zinc and phosphorus to ensure proper ring seal and protection to the cam and lifters during break-in.
18. We headed over to Westech Performance for some time on their chassis dyno. Technician Eric Rhee spent some quality time banging away on his keyboard and getting the tune-up dialed in. At this point we were really looking forward to seeing what the stroker could do.
19. Unfortunately, the stock (and old) fuel pump wasn't able to supply ample fuel volume and started falling off hard at about 4,200 rpm (pink line), so as you can see in the dyno graph, we aborted the pull at 5,000 rpm to avoid going lean and causing major damage. With that said, the engine showed good promise as it made 450 hp and 481 lb-ft of torque up to that point. We'll address the fuel pump issue and head back to Westech and finish what we started in the next issue.


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32 teens escape from Nashville detention center
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Thirty-two teens escaped from a Nashville youth detention center by crawling under a weak spot in a fence late Monday, and nine of them were still on the run Tuesday, a spokesman said.
The teens — ages 14 to 19 — left their rooms at Woodland Hills Youth Development Center and went into a common area, where they overwhelmed 16 to 18 staff members, Tennessee Department of Children's Services spokesman Rob Johnson said.
The group then kicked out a metal panel under a window to get out of the building and into a yard, Johnson said. The teens were running in the yard for a few minutes, and then they realized they could lift part of the chain-link fence and crawl out, Johnson said.
He said the fence is buried 8 inches deep into the ground, but the teens managed to pull up a weak portion and get out underneath. Once staff members saw some of the group escaping, they called the police, Johnson said.
Two teens were captured immediately and others were found overnight, Johnson said. Some were found by authorities, others turned themselves in, and others were turned in by their parents, he said.
No staff members were hurt in the incident, officials said. On Tuesday morning, local police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol were still searching for nine of the teens.
The 23 who were found or turned back in to the center were taken to Metro Nashville Juvenile court and could face escape charges, officials said in a news release.
The state-owned center in northwest Nashville held 78 teens at the time of the escape, and most had committed at least three felonies, Johnson said. The center has a school, offers vocational training and career counseling, and works to move teens to less restrictive settings, according to a state website. It holds teens until their 19th birthdays, and all have been charged as juveniles, not adults. Their records are sealed.
At the center, the teens stay in single rooms that are not locked from the inside, officials said. The teens wear blue pants with white or light gray T-shirts. The clothing has no markings.
The detention center was calm and back under control Tuesday morning, Johnson said. Police cars were on the scene, but there was little activity at the center or its neighbors — a women's prison, several offices for trucking companies and other businesses.
On the western edge of the facility, the spot where the teens escaped, the closest neighbors are a frozen pizza plant and a liquor distributor. Officials said the fence has been fixed.


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Facebook has formed a two-faceted relationship with five prominent players from the security industry.
The first facet will be invisible to most, as it will see the social network share its URL blacklists with those generated by Microsoft, McAfee, TrendMicro, Sophos, and Symantec. Facebook says pooling resources in this way will make it less likely that its users are sent to known sources of malware or other online nasties.
The second part of the deal is expressed at the new Facebook AntiVirus Marketplace, a page where the five vendors above now offer their security wares for sale. Software downloaded from the page is free, but only updates with new antivirus signatures for six months. Microsoft's Security Essentials is Redmond's offering and usually offers free updates in perpetuity. It's not clear if the version offered through Facebook limits the free update period.
The five vendors will also blog on Facebook's security blog, where the new deal was announced. ®


text:
John Loomis
Interior Design
MA, Architecture
Columbia University, NY
"Think rigorously, process digitally, work iteratively, practice social and environmental responsibility, create, innovate—get your hands dirty."
As we enter further into the 21st century, it is apparent that success in just about every endeavor these days is increasingly a result of two things—creativity and innovation. Now that is not necessarily news. From Bernini to Bauhaus, Rembrandt to Rauschenberg, Michelangelo to Maeda, significant advances in art and design have always been marked by creativity and innovation. But with the unprecedented intensity and rapidity of change today, creativity and innovation are more than ever the keys to success.
At the School of Art & Design of San José State University, creativity and innovation are at the core of our educational, artistic, and design values. They are born of intellectual inquiry, rigorous analysis, tolerance of risk, interdisciplinary process, iterative self–assessment, collaboration, peer learning and above all—making.
We believe in educating the whole student, not training the technician. Embedded within a large liberal arts and sciences university, the School of Art & Design focuses on learning within a rich academic environment that enables students to become not just well honed artists and designers, but also educated, socially and environmentally responsible, creative and innovative leaders.
Our alumni not only thrive in their disciplines of study, they also have been adept at crossing disciplinary platforms for years. We have weavers who became architects, painters now in interior design, animators who morphed into web designers, graphic designers in creative management, and art historians who are now leaders in business and information technology. Adaptive interdisciplinary creativity continues as a core value for our students today and serves them well in changing times. It is no coincidence that a recent issue of the Harvard Business Review declared that "the MFA is the new MBA".
We are located on the Eastern edge of the Pacific Rim, within a population that reflects the diverse peoples and cultures of that hemisphere. San José is unique in that it has an ethnic balance in which there are neither majorities nor minorities. This is a contributing factor that makes this one of the most culturally progressive places in the United States. San José is the largest city of the economically dynamic and culturally rich San Francisco Bay Area and is the urban center for Silicon Valley, renowned crucible of creativity. Our success is no accident and we are fortunate to share it with this network community of cultural and technological innovators.


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October 08, 2013
Review - Rush of Blood by Mark Billingham
Mark Billingham has a very good series featuring Inspector tom Thorne, but this is a stand alone which follows 3 English couples who meet on holiday in Florida. Shortly before they all fly home, a girl goes missing. She isn't found until weeks later and by then they have begun a series of dinners at each of the couples' homes. An inexperienced trainee detective constable is tasked with follow up interviews with the holiday makers and she notes some inconsistencies in their accounts. Then a girl goes missing in England and suddenly a Trans-Atlantic investigation is underway. Billingham does a good job of revealing the personalities and the stresses affecting them. More than one person has opportunity but who has the motive. It culminates in a shocking discovery and a death. A very well constructed thriller and a page turner. I didn't guess it although I was on the right track. Wendy
Posted by Camden Council Library Service at Tuesday, October 08, 2013
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Taught by Artur Menezes in The Evolution of Modern Blues seriesLength: 6:04Difficulty: 3.0 of 5
Endless energy. Youthful Innocence. Vintage vibes. Winner of the ultra-prestigious Gibson Blues Guitarist of the Year, Artur Menezes, now joins the JamPlay roster of artists and educators. We are excited to announce his course, The Evolution to Modern Blues, covering the past, current, and future of this beloved genre. Hoping to learn the blues from scratch, or tired of the same licks? If so, this course was built for you.
Lesson 1
Artur discusses his new course, what you can expect to learn, and what you should know going in.Length: 6:28 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Lesson 2
Understanding the form of the 12 bar blues is foundational to blues guitar playing. Internalizing where the chords land and understanding the harmony is key to mastering the traditional blues form.Length: 5:11 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Lesson 3
We've learned the standard 12 bar form. There are many different feels that fit within that basic form. In this lesson, Artur takes a look at a variation in the 12 bar blues: the slow change and fast change...Length: 6:32 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Lesson 4
Although a very common type of blues, don't be fooled by the word "slow" in slow blues. Slow does not mean easy! In fact, it can be a challenging feel to master. Artur gives us his take on the slow blues.Length: 9:14 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Lesson 5
The shuffle is one of the core feels of blues. In this lesson Artur talks about how to "feel" the shuffle, and gives some ideas of what to play over it.Length: 3:33 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lesson 6
Turnarounds are lines played over the bars 11 and 12. They're commonly played on blues tunes and their function is to conclude the "sentence"(round). Like when you're reading a book and you finish a paragraph...Length: 8:48 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Lesson 7
To improvise over a blues tune, major or minor, the Minor Pentatonic Scale is a foundational component. In this lesson Artur explains the scale, and will teach you the 1st shape and give you 4 licks that...Length: 12:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lesson 8
Now on to the 2nd shape of the minor pentatonic scale. Get ready for the scale plus 4 in position licks that will make you sound amazing!Length: 8:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lesson 9
Another scale shape, another 4 licks! This time it's shape 3 of the minor pentatonic scale.Length: 8:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lesson 10
The 4th shape add yet more flavors to your minor pentatonic scale licks. Again, we learn the shape and learn 4 cool licks to go along with it!Length: 7:11 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lesson 11
In this lesson Artur teaches us the last shape of the minor pentatonic scale. And as with the other shapes, Artur will give us 4 licks to go along with shape 5.Length: 6:33 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lesson 12
Bends and Vibrato are some of if not the most important things to consider when you express yourself through guitar. They are what make you sound like you. In this lesson Artur shows us some vibrato and...Length: 9:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Lesson 13
Have you ever attended to a blues jam session and heard someone yell "Shuffle in D, from the five! 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4..."? What is that! In this lesson Artur teaches you those expressions and licks to start...Length: 7:58 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lesson 14
Finishing strong is very important when playing the blues! In this lesson, Artur explains how a blues tune usually ends and I'll give you some licks for this.Length: 8:25 Difficulty: 2.5 FREE
Lesson 15
It's important to copy the masters in order to understand the blues language and with time develop your own phrasing. In this video I'll show some licks from BB King.Length: 6:04 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 16
It's important to listen to and emulate the masters in order to understand blues language and feel. In this lesson, Artur shows us some licks from the legendary bluesman Albert King.Length: 7:16 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lesson 17
When we study the blues greats, it's inevitable that their style will seep into our own playing. Just like we can hear Hendrix in Stevie Ray Vaughn's playing, Stevie Ray's playing can find it's way into...Length: 13:58 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lesson 18
Using movements and chord substitution are very important to make the song more musical, mature and less boring for the players and for the audience. In this lesson Artur focuses on the "half diminished"...Length: 10:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Lesson 19
Now Artur shows us an interesting way of improvising using chords and their arpeggios as the basis of the solo. He also shows us some licks based on the half diminished arpeggio.Length: 11:18 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 20
Players like BB King and Derek Trucks mastered playing the major scale over a traditional blues progression. In this lesson Artur shows you how to integrate this into your playing.Length: 10:25 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 21
This lesson is all about an easy but important exercise meant to connect all of the minor pentatonic shapes. Artur also gives us some fast pentatonic runs to help with our speed and dexterity.Length: 6:53 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 22
Instead of thinking modally, Artur is the type of player that likes to think: Minor Pentatonic + Target notes. In this lesson, he shows us some licks using the minor pentatonic, plus the sharp 4.Length: 7:19 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 23
The minor pentatonic plus the major 3rd is the subject of this lesson. Get ready to add a major flavor to your tonality!Length: 6:59 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 24
More flavors to add to your playing - Adding the major 6 to the minor pentatonic scale gives that "dorian" sound!Length: 5:06 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 25
Adding the major 9 flavor to your minor pentatonic scale licks will give you a more modern sound. Join Artur as he explores this latest addition.Length: 4:55 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 26
Using the altered scale in just the right spot can start suggesting jazz tonality in your blues playing. In this lesson, Artur shows us the scale and how and where to use it!Length: 8:27 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 27
Dominant diminished. Yet another scale that takes you into new territory, tonally speaking. Artur gives us some cool licks to use with this very unique scale.Length: 8:33 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 28
Using chromaticism is an easy way to add a more modern approach and tonality. Artur uses chromatic connecting points to show us this concept.Length: 7:00 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 29
The minor blues is a foundational blues style that has it's roots deep in the genre. Artur talks about this feel and shows us some of his favorite minor blues licks.Length: 7:52 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Lesson 30
The more we move towards jazz tonality, the more sophisticated our blues becomes. In this lesson Artur improvises over a song from his most recent album. Talk about a modern evolution! This is entering...Length: 6:38 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
About Artur Menezes
View Full Biography
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I am 66 years young and I still got it! I would have never known this if it had not been for Jamplay! I feel like a 12 year old kid with a new guitar! Ha! I cannot express enough how great you're website is! It is for beginners and advanced pickers! I am an advanced picker and thought I had lost it but thanks to you all, I found it again! Even though I only play by ear, I have been a member a whopping whole two weeks now and have already got Brent's country shuffle and country blues down and of course with embellishments. Thank you all for your wonderful program!
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I'm a fifty eight year old newbie who owns a guitar which has been sitting untouched in a corner for about seven years now. Last weekend I got inspired to pick it up and finally learn how to play after watching an amazing Spanish guitarist on TV. So, here I am. I'm starting at the beginning with Steve Eulberg and I couldn't be happier (except for the sore fingers :) Some day I'm going to play like Steve! I'm self employed with a hectic schedule. With Jamplay I can fit in a random session when I have time and I can go at my own pace, rewinding and replaying the videos until I get it. This is a very enjoyable diversion from my work yet I still feel like I'm accomplishing something worthwhile. Thanks a lot, Greg
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Blanka's baptism is this weekend.
So, I walked down to the bakery to order the cake and bread for the event. It's our favorite bakery and we know that staff well. So, I explain to them what we need in terms of bread and then turn to the issue of the cake. The cake expert is called in and she pulls out a book to show me page after page of cake pictures, all geared toward baptism. They even had one of them on display. And while it was sort of cute, I found them to be rather tacky. ...Heaps of frosting, molded into the shape of bibles...or baby booties...etc...
So, I point to the elegant chocolate layer cake with chocolate shavings on top sitting in the glass case and ask,
-why can't I have a cake like this?
-That's a birthday cake.
I move in for a closer inspection. It didn't say Happy Birthday on it or anything like that. So, I replied:
-I think it looks good.
-Yes, but for baptisms in our country, people take these cakes.
She proceeds to point to the pages in the book geared for baptism. So, I shore up my strength for the fight and I say,
-Well, I think these cakes are more elegant.
-I don't think you understand me. That's a birthday cake.
...and so on...
Ladies and Gentleman, I left the bakery with an order for three ˝birthday˝ cakes for Blanka's baptism. Later, I told my husband that it was fortunate that I handled the transaction. As a foreigner, they'll chalk it up to my being an idiot and not knowing how things are done ˝kod nas.˝ Moreover, they'll sympathize with my poor husband who has to be subject to my crazy American ideas.
The funny part of this is that she acted like I was assaulting some deeply held principle when in fact I know that 20 years ago no one would have been ordering anything from a bakery -not for a baptism or anything else. Some old baba would have made the cake. And guess what...it would have looked just like one of my ˝birthday˝ cakes.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Wrong Cake
Posted by An American in Croatia at 7:10 AM 0 comments
Labels: My Seinfeld Life
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Bgemagen Building
3215 W State St
Milwaukee, WI 53208
Bgemagen Building
Office: Mixed Use
3215 W State St, Milwaukee, WI 53208
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Current Listings
Bgemagen Building
Commercial Location Score (CLS) is a scoring system developed by Moody's Analytics to help commercial real estate professionals gain a quick understanding of the major factors that affect the value of a location. It's designed as a means to consistently evaluate a location's suitability/desirability for a particular use based on a number of factors.
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UNTERSCHLEISSHEIM, Germany, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- A new offshore patrol boat for the Finnish Border Guard is to be equipped with a naval radar from Cassidian.
Cassidian, which has headquarters in Germany, said the contract for its TRS-3D system was given by Finland's STX Shipyard.
"To provide reliable surveillance data during the demanding coast guard missions in the difficult littoral environment of the Finnish coastal waters you need extremely powerful sensors", said Elmar Compans, head of Sensors and Electronic Warfare at Cassidian. "Our TRS-3D radar has operationally proven that it is the right answer to these challenging requirements."
The TRS-3D radar -- for situational awareness and helicopter guidance and search-and-rescue -- features the capability to correlate plots and tracking of targets with Cassidian's MSSR 2000 I identification system for automatic identification of vessels and aircraft.
TRS-3D is already used on "Squadron 2000" patrol vessels and Hamina class ships of the Finnish navy.
Cassidian said the radar will be delivered for integration into the vessel in the middle of next year.


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Lookaway, Lookaway by Wilton Barnhardt
(St. Martin's Press; 368 pages; $25.99)
The Johnstons of North Carolina really do put the "fun" in dysfunctional. Your family will look tame and even normal by comparison. Scandal seems to follow members of the Johnston family, proud descendants of Confederate Civil War General Joseph E. Johnston. Tradition, pride, and appearance matter a great deal to them, yet one thing is certain: the Johnstons will not be sending out Christmas letters along with their Christmas cards anytime soon. You know the ones I mean, and you probably have relatives who've sent you these, too, bragging about what their kids have accomplished this year.
Although Lookaway, Lookaway is not written in the same unique style in which Maria Semple wrote Where'd You Go, Bernadette, this singularly Southern story will appeal to Semple's fans. While Semple caricatured Seattle culture, Barnhardt satirizes the South.
Barnhardt offers up wit and cleverness, a combination guaranteed to elicit a loud guffaw or two. Case in point: "You'll do something, I would hope, with your future Carolina degree," Jerene Jarvis Johnston tells her daughter, Jerilyn, when she leaves for college. "Enjoy your independence. Work for a few years before you see which of the young men at Carolina seems destined for something besides his parents' basement. Or, given the atmosphere at Carolina, rehab." Wickedly hilarious, this piercing story will soon be all everyone is talking about. Lookaway, Lookaway is the perfect social satire—Southern style.


text:
Nah, scratch that.
Growle was an aspiring Victorian mechanic...
There once was a mechanic, who slaved day and night oiling the cogs of the greatest machine of the world; the British Postal System.
Forget it. 'Tis a steampunk walker, which I have dubbed Growle's Moving Writing-Desk on account of it's owner, Growle, and it's contents, a writing-desk.
Other side:
The crew:
Growle is in the centre. His assistant, Alfonzo, is on the left. His pet dragon, Filiberto, is the dragon.
And, in case you were wondering, here is the gun:
It's a standard-model rail-cannon, 'borrowed' off his friends from the 3rd Regulars (see http://www.brikwars.com/forums/viewtopi ... 17&t=11848).
And that, my friends, is another successful build!
Might do another one some time.
Edit: Due to semi-popular demand, here's the interior, including writing-desk:
And the fireplace, just for good measure:
Yes, the roof is removable, for ease of access.


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Selby is a New York City based transportation company that provides school bus service to both public and private schools through its 250 vehicle fleet.
Key challenges for Selby's business were to be able to tell parents about a school bus location, ensure passenger safety and optimize drivers' working time after school drop offs.
With less than a year from the implementation of the fleet management solution, Selby's director, Lee Selby states: "I can check routes, drivers and vehicle locations on my iPhone - I'm in touch with what's happening all the time. With that knowledge, we've been able to consolidate routes and improve the way we do things. We expect these savings to continue to grow".
Also Selby is now able to monitor driving behavior and take corrective measures, reduce fuel costs, optimize routes and increase customer satisfaction.


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We just received these photos and videos from Dirt Norco Race Team rider Jonathan Duncan. It is a behind-the-scenes racer's look at traveling through Europe from one World Cup event to another and how it is to have a "home" on wheels.
Words, photos and video by Jonathan Duncan
Life on the world cup circuit can be quite challenging, especially if you are running your own program. For riders, there is good reason for the frustration of a poor race run, or not qualifying. Most spectators don't see the months put into training and organizing all of the logistics and equipment. They also miss the hours and days of travel the week before.
For the Dirt Norco Race Team it's about loading up the bus and setting out across Europe. Rolling into Val Di Sol for round 2 of the World Cup Circuit, the first order of business was getting the pits set up which revolves around #buslife. Their vehicle is not only the core of the pit but it also serves as the accommodation, the restaurant, the media center, the mechanic shop and the evening pub. The next three days are consumed with course walks, practice and bike tuning followed by more practice and bike tuning. The hope is that when your time comes, all the hard work you have put in during the off-season and these crucial days prior pay off and you lay down a clean and fast run. In a game of fractions of a second, one bad bounce can end your weekend. Things didn't go as planned in Italy but it is time to put that aside and do it all over again, this time in fort William. First though, the pit must be packed up, bikes cleaned and bus prepared for the road.
Ben Reid is insistent on doing all the driving between the races. While other riders have since flown home for a few days rest, the Dirt boys stay in the road, living in the bus as they drive across Europe. it doesn't take long with all the confusing detours and foreign streets to get behind schedule. This means there isn't time to "stop and enjoy the view". You learn to adapt your life and your body to the road. "It's a fine balance" says Dirt Norco rider Duncan Riffle "You need to stay hydrated, but without time for pit stops you can't be the guy holding up the bus"
By the numbers we are one bus (#buslife), one driver (Ben Reid), two days, four dudes, five countries to cross, and we are six hours behind! It's truly incredible to see what these athletes go through. We are all aware of the amazing talents they have on a bike. We cheer and watch in awe as they navigate the worlds hardest trails in any condition at top form. To see what they go through leading up to those finals, puts a whole new perspective on it. With fewer beds than passengers, we take turns getting a little sleep here and there as we make are way from Italy to Scotland. That is of course unless you are Ben. "If I'm alive, I'll drive" and "I'm here to steer" are popular phrases that his co-pilots all know and understand.
Even the best laid plans can have setbacks and our trip was no different. We had hoped after a very full day of driving and a second full day on the horizon, that a good nights sleep at the ferry was in the cards. Unfortunately we arrived at 2:30am, to a very busy customs line and immigration office. Barely alive at this point I remember the customs agent holding the stamp above my passport, asking across to the agent holding Duncan Riffle's passport and saying "You ok letting these guys in?" A pause, then the reply "Ya, I'm ok if you are ok" !Stamp! and we were in. The ferry across to England was at 4:30 for time for a quick nap.
Just after 6am Ben was back behind the wheel and we were on our way. We had all be pushed pretty hard the previous day and with supplies and energy low, a side of the road stop was required. I'm sure we all could have slept the entire day, but with a 10 hour drive still to go another quick nap was all we had time for. The drive North went well, back on Ben's "local" roads we made good time and arrived into Fort William around 11pm. With much needed showers and laundry facilities we were finally able to crash for a few hours of well-needed rest.
No time to linger, there's a long list to do. First up is to stock the bus. As it is the heart of the pit, it doesn't move until after the event. So it needs to be stocked for all the riders and support staff for the next 4-5 days. This isn't just the shopping, but also topping up the gas that runs the stove and fridge. Making sure the batteries are all charged and the water tank is topped up. Plus the old girl has to look her best, so a spot to wash her up is also required.
Then, like the well orchestrated team they are, the pit gets set up. The maps come out and pieces are assembled and in no time their cozy home is constructed. It's been an absolutely pinned three days with everyone running on very little. Space is tight, good food is hard to come by, let alone time for a XC or training ride. These athletes have found their own ways to cope with life on the bus. Small little touches that remind them of being at home, or the cup of tea in the middle of a long day that just soothes the mind. And now where all I want to do is lay low and rest, these guys have to put it behind them and focus on the task at hand, concurring Fort William. You'd never need to ask any of them "Why do you do it?" as it's so easy to see the passion they have. This is their life, it's what drives them its what they live for. This #buslife


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Coming up on sixteen millenia - errm, I mean years - now. Not a bad effort, I have to say. And though some of the middle seasons had a slight slump in humor value, I have to say, overall the series is as good as it ever was.Tyranny wrote:Okay, that's weird. If anything should be on FOX Classics, it should be The Simpsons. How many milennia has this show been running for now? Oh! And Futurama, just because it rocks.
In today's TV world, where almost anything even remotely enjoyable is axed after the first season, you gotta respect shows like The Simpsons and Law & Order that are still kicking well into their second decades.
(By comparison, for interest's sake, that miserable excuse for television that is Everybody Loves Raymond ran for less than nine years before it got canned, which happened less than three months ago - so whether you go by how old the show is OR how long it ran for, how the fuck does that shit classify as a Fox Classic, alongside ancient classics like M*A*S*H, Rockford Files, Remington Steele, etc.?? Spot the odd show out, really...)
On a side note, the longest running TV show ever, according to three mins on Google/Epguides, seems to have been Gunsmoke - the show ran for 20 years, from '55 to '75, with a total of 635 eps and five TV movies. They sure don't make 'em like they used to!
Hey, wow... if The Simpsons can last for less than four years longer, it will officially break the world record... interesting....


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2005 nissan murano valve cover gasket replacement
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Photo How to Replace the Valve Cover Gaskets on a Nissan Murano — How to Automotive Video RELATED PAGES
A Nissan Murano Valve Cover Gasket Replacement costs between $ and $ on average. Get a free detailed estimate for a repair in your area.
Nissan Murano Replacement Valve Cover Gasket Information. Search our online 05 Nissan Murano Valve Cover Gasket Set L V6 Felpro. Click to.
Order Nissan Murano Valve Cover Gasket online today. are all indicators that you need to order your replacement valve cover gaskets for Nissan Murano from .
The technician will remove the valve cover, remove the old gasket, and clean all gasket surfaces before installing the new valve cover gasket. Find a high quality auto repair shop or dealer near you. Where applicable, a valve clearance inspection and adjustment should be performed. To keep the oil where it belongs, your engine is sealed in many places. Nissan Murano Model Years.
Nissan Murano Valve Cover Gasket Replacement Costs | YourMechanic Estimates
The valve cover is a plastic or metal cover on the top of the cylinder head. Not to be confused with the head gasket, the valve cover gasket seals the surfaces between the valve cover s and the cylinder head s. The valve cover sits atop the cylinder head, and the valve cover gasket is sandwiched between them to keep circulating oil inside. The majority of valve cover gaskets are molded rubber, tailor fit to the valve cover and mating surfaces.
Where applicable, the spark plug tube gaskets are part of the valve cover gasket, and are replaced at the same time.
Oil leaking from valve cover gaskets can result in a burning smell coming from under the hood. Valve cover gaskets need to be replaced when they begin to leak oil. Oil leaks can damage other engine components, especially belts and hoses. Signs of a bad valve cover gasket. A vehicle can still be driven with a leaking valve cover, but the leaking oil will cause other problems over time. Spark plug wells can fill with oil, causing a misfire.
Oil dripping on coolant hoses will cause them to become soft and eventually burst. And the smell of burning oil will become more noticeable in the cabin. In the most extreme cases, excessive oil leaking onto exhaust manifolds can cause a fire.
Repair intervals vary greatly by vehicle and driving conditions. The valve cover gasket does not wear like a tire or a ball joint, but eventually the gasket's rubber or cork will degrade to the point of leakage. Often, leakage of the valve cover gasket is visible during normal servicing such as an oil change so it typically doesn't go unseen for too long. It is easiest to spot oil leaks when they are new or fresh.
The technician may clean the fluid around the leak and direct you to come back later to confirm where the leak is coming from. With more progressed oil leaks, the technician will also add a dye to the oil. After the vehicle has been driven with the dye, a UV light will be used to pinpoint the leakage and recommend repair.
The technician will remove the valve cover, remove the old gasket, and clean all gasket surfaces before installing the new valve cover gasket. On some engines, removal of the intake manifold, or other major parts may be required in order to access the fasteners on the cover. After completion, the area will be checked for leaks.
A high quality gasket should be used. Often, the OEM gasket will have the best seal. Some manufacturer suggest adding special silicone to specific areas to ensure a proper seal. Where applicable, a valve clearance inspection and adjustment should be performed. Some modern engines have multi-piece valve covers with integrated parts, such as PCV Valves or coil pack holders.
Increasingly, they are also made of plastic. Proper care should be taken so as not to damage this style of cover. The leak itself should also be properly diagnosed, as it is not uncommon for the valve cover itself to come apart, and require complete replacement. Repairing your own car is an extremely rewarding process that can also save you money.


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Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Wordless Wednesday - Falling Snow
I still trying to figure out the best way to capture falling snow with the camera. The large snowflakes are so impressive in person but the still image never seems to convey the natural beauty of winter in the same way.
Find more of this week's Wordless Wednesday (or Wordful) posts at 5 Minutes for Mom
15 comments:
- feefioto said...
That is a lovely photo. I would probably take Photoshop to it. would that be cheating?
- January 4, 2011 at 11:15 PM
- Genny said...
That is so beautiful! Truly a winter wonderland!
- January 4, 2011 at 11:43 PM
- Dianne - Bunny Trails said...
I'm with you - I always have a hard time, too. But I think you did an exceptional job of capturing it in this image. Very beautiful!!
- January 5, 2011 at 12:22 AM
- Buckeroomama said...
I still think yours came out beautifully. :)
- January 5, 2011 at 2:43 AM
- Storied Cities said...
I think you did splendidly. A beautiful scene!
- January 5, 2011 at 3:48 AM
- Run DMT said...
I think you did an excellent job capturing the beauty of snow falling. Great photo!
- January 5, 2011 at 5:24 AM
- Liz Mays said...
I really like it! It's BEAUTIFUL!!!!
- January 5, 2011 at 6:33 AM
- Anonymous said...
Nice winter photo.
- January 5, 2011 at 6:38 AM
- Secret Mom Thoughts said...
I think you did a good job capturing the beauty.
- January 5, 2011 at 8:10 AM
- An Apel a Day said...
I'm with you...I never know how to capture the beauty. Your photo looks lovely regardless.
We haven't had very much snow this year compared to last year. I live in Omaha, NE, and we usually get more snow then I'd like.
My WW is here: http://theapels.blogspot.com/2011/01/wordless-wednesday-in-pop-up-tent.html
- January 5, 2011 at 8:26 AM
- LadyD Piano said...
So peaceful!
- January 5, 2011 at 9:22 AM
- Jen said...
I love your photo! You will have to read Snowflake Bentley for sure!
- January 5, 2011 at 3:13 PM
- Anonymous said...
That's just beautiful!
It was snowing here on Christmas day (not much) and I sent my husband out with the video camera to capture it. When I played it back later you can't even tell that it's snowing :( I was so disappointed. Oh well. The snow's supposed to hit us this weekend and then I probably can't wait until spring!
- January 5, 2011 at 9:17 PM
- Anonymous said...
That's a gorgeous photo of snow falling. I love it!
- January 6, 2011 at 2:16 PM
- Debbie Diesen said...
Those look like the sort of snowflakes that inspire kids (and sometimes their grown-ups!) to try to catch snowflakes on their tongues. What a magical part of winter.
- January 6, 2011 at 3:39 PM


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Articles & Multimedia on Dropout Prevention
- What's Your Experience with Alternative Schools? - Here's what you said on NEA's discussion board (2008).
School Stories
- Meeting Students Where They Are - School grouped students using diagnostic placement tests, not age, and allowed students to move to higher levels through self-paced learning.
Teacher Stories
- Students Develop Skills in Construction Program - At-risk students develop academic skills, real-world skills, and general engagement in learning through community construction projects.
- I Work at Keeping Students Engaged - Teacher uses creativity, humor, and knowledge of real-world skills.
- Long-Term Absentees - High school special education teacher and advisor found out why they were staying out of school.
Student Stories
- Not Making the Same Mistake My Brothers Made - She not only graduated high school but she also went on to college.
- Teacher Helped Student with Family Problems - Student struggled with decision: go to school or stay home with a very ill mother.
- Back to High School at 20 - Student decided it's never too late to finish your high school education.


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Director Rupert Wyatt delivered a surprise hit with last summer's Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The franchise had been in cold storage since the atrocious Tim Burton remake but Fox decided to give the Apes another chance, and it paid off wonderfully (even though the film was flat-out robbed of the Best Visual Effects Oscar). Although James Franco was the name on the marquee, the prequel made Caesar (Andy Serkis) the real star and Weta's special effects geniuses helped bring the character to life.
Last November, we reported that 20th Century Fox was planning multiple sequels to the successful blockbuster with Wyatt and Serkis slated to return. Steve recently interviewed the studio's CEO, Tom Rothman, and learned that they're hoping to get the next movie in theaters by summer 2014. Hit the jump for more.
Speaking to Steve at CinemaCon, Rothman said the studio is developing a script and "pushing forward aggressively." He stated that while they don't want to release the movie until they're satisfied with the final product, they're eying summer of 2014 for a release date if they can make it.
Other studios have begun locking in their 2014 release dates. Marvel's got Captain America 2 and an untitled feature, Pixar has The Good Dinosaur, Sony's planning to release The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and Paramount has staked out a date for Transformers 4. Fox currently doesn't have any movies firmly set for the summer of 2014, but I'm sure audiences would be happy to see the next chapter in the Planet of the Apes series as soon as possible.
Here's the transcript of Rothman's conversation with Steve regarding the Rise of the Planet of the Apes sequel:
I loved Rise of the Planet of the Apes. What's the status of the sequel?
Rothman: That's very much on the tracks. We're developing a script. Rupert Wyatt, who directed the first one, will direct the second one. We're pushing forward aggressively, so the script's being written now.
Do you have an idea of a time frame you'd like to release it?
Rothman: Yeah, I think it would make sense if we can, you know we serve no wine before it's time, but the goal for us would be summer of 2014, if that's possible.
If you needed a reminder of the incredible visual effects work and Serkis' brilliant performance, check out the video below:
For more from Steve's interview with Rothman, here's what he had to say about a New Mutants movie, the rating for Prometheus, and the Fantastic Four reboot, Daredevil, and a sequel to this year's hit superhero pic Chronicle.


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The new film Creation, which opens January 22, tells the true story of the circumstances surrounding Charles Darwin's crowning creation, On the Origin of Species. The film is not really about Darwin writing the book; that would be cinematic suicide (as any screenwriter can tell you, watching someone write a book is about as dramatic and interesting as watching someone read a book). Nor is the film a biography of Darwin's life, though several of his earlier adventures on the H.M.S. Beagle and elsewhere are told in flashback as stories to his children. Instead the film is about one of the world's greatest scientists and his family, about how he was deeply in love with a religious woman who profoundly disagreed with much of his life's work and the revolutionary theory it birthed.
Darwin (played by Paul Bettany) struggles to write his books as he battles poor health, internal and external pressures, and personal demons, especially regarding his wife Emma (Jennifer Connelly) and his brightest daughter, Annie (Martha West). In one of the most moving and impassioned scenes, we see Darwin's furor after Annie is punished in Sunday school for questioning her vicar and asking about dinosaurs. Darwin's outrage is palpable as he prepares to confront the priest about punishing his daughter for simply speaking a self-evident scientific truth–not blasphemous impertinence.
Charles Darwin was clearly a man as enamored with his family as with his study of the world around him. Charles explains the naturalistic world to his children: how a camera works, how the geological strata of rocks tells a story of what happened millions of years ago, and so on. Several fanciful segments appear, essentially miniature documentaries depicting nature's life cycles. Rarely has a film so effectively conveyed a wonderful, humanistic sense of the magic and awe of science.
When Annie dies, Charles is devastated and struggles to find the faith in himself to complete his book. While Emma takes solace in the idea that their beloved daughter is in heaven with God, Charles can't bring himself to share her comforting belief. Nor is he willing to accept the insulting and feeble "comfort" that Annie's death is part of some greater divine plan; he has studied nature's cruelties and is too much a scientist to pretend that his family is exempt from them.
While Charles struggles with personal demons, the rest of the world waits for the product of his work. In one pivotal scene, Thomas Huxley (a piss-and-vinegar brimming Toby Jones) confronts Darwin, urging him to complete his long-gestating book. When Darwin says he needs more time and more evidence, Huxley barks: "Mr. Darwin, either you are being disingenuous, or you do not fully understand your own theory. Evidently what is true of the barnacle is true of all creatures–even humans. Clearly the Almighty can no longer claim to have authored all species in under a week. You've killed God, sir. You've killed God."
Never before has the threat of Darwin's ideas to creationism been so clearly depicted in a mainstream movie. While other films have downplayed or glossed over the friction between On the Origin of Species and the Bible, Creation tackles it head-on. Stephen Jay Gould's conciliatory notion of the non-overlapping magisteria of science and religion is out the window; here we have the bare-knuckled, Richard Dawkins view.
Creation's most remarkable achievement is to humanize one of the most important and influential scientists in history. It's no secret that most scientists in films are depicted in an unflattering light. Horror films often depict scientists as Dr. Frankenstein-like evil geniuses whose experiments bring death and destruction. Comedies show scientists as socially inept nerds obsessed with numbers and data crunching. In the wake of the recent "Climategate controversy," climate scientists were portrayed as deceitful and conspiratorial hoaxers trying to mislead the public about global warming. Rare indeed are films that show scientists as real humans with problems and struggles who do their best to reveal scientific truths. (A few of the best are Contact, The Dish, and A Beautiful Mind.)
Creation premiered on the opening night of the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival in September. At the time, Creation producer Jeremy Thomas lamented the fact that the film had not yet found a distributor in the United States. Creation was eventually picked up by Newmarket Films–ironically perhaps best known for releasing Mel Gibson's controversial 2004 religious gorefest The Passion of the Christ.
The performances in Creation are as remarkable as the script. Paul Bettany evokes Charles Darwin with seeming effortless ease, and truly inhabits the role. His Darwin is deeply conflicted, afraid of how his ideas may hurt those he loves, and wracked with guilt that he may have contributed to Annie's death. Jennifer Connelly is wonderful as Emma, depicting not only her strength and devotion to Charles, but her own conflicted devotion to her faith and her husband's work.
The film was directed by Jon Amiel, from a screenplay written by John Collee, which in turn evolved from the biography Annie's Box, written by one of Darwin's great-great grandsons. Though Creation has been well received, some early reviewers groused that the film is boring; perhaps they were expecting the story of the theory of evolution would be told amidst action-packed swashbuckling and explosions. Creation is beautiful and powerful, with great performances and important ideas about faith, love, loss and truth.


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Premier League: West Ham 0 Stoke City 1
Jermaine Pennant came off the bench to score a late free-kick as Stoke City recorded a 1-0 Premier League win at West Ham on Saturday.
The visitors were the better side and kept West Ham goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen busy throughout the match, particularly in the first half.
West Ham did improve after the break but Pennant curled in a delightful free-kick with eight minutes to play for the visitors.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce made 11 changes to the side that beat Cheltenham Town in the League Cup on Tuesday, recalling key men Jaaskelainen, Kevin Nolan and Matt Jarvis among others.
Stoke were also victorious during the week as a Kenwyne Jones hat-trick inspired them to a 3-1 win over Walsall, and the forward kept his place in the side, while winger Matthew Etherington was included against his former club.
Jones almost continued his scoring form inside the first 10 minutes as he latched on to a through ball from Charlie Adam, but after holding off Winston Reid with a typical showing of strength, he could only fire over.
West Ham were slow out of the blocks and although they gradually grew into the game, their final ball let them down on several occasions.
Stoke – who had eight shots on goal in the first half - continued to threaten and Jaaskelainen made several good saves, initially turning Marc Wilson's swerving volley wide.
The Finland international then kept out a close-range header from Jonathan Walters, who was incorrectly judged to be offside.
West Ham's first significant chance of the match came in the 35th minute, but Modibo Maiga could not direct his harder on target after a good Jarvis cross, as both sides went to the break without a goal.
Stoke picked up where they left off in the second half, and nearly took the lead in fortuitous circumstances.
Adam's in-swinging corner hit an unsuspecting Ryan Shawcross on the thigh but went wide, while Allardyce looked to substitute Ravel Morrison to spark his side into life.
Reid had a chance at the other end for West Ham, but volleyed over after a corner was improperly cleared, before Stoke took a deserving lead in the 82nd minute.
Pennant – who had been introduced just six minutes earlier for Etherington – curled the set-piece around the wall, giving Jaaskelainen no chance.
And although West Ham threw bodies forward late in a bid to get an equaliser, Pennant's first goal since May 2011 was enough to give Stoke all three points.
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